Question Number: 34221

Law 17 - The Corner Kick 5/17/2021

RE: ex amature player, fan since 1965 Adult

James Joseph Paris of Wilmington, DE United States asks...

on 5-15-21 Red Bulls played Philadelphia. At 63:49 Red Bulls take corner kick. The 1st Red Bull player kicks the ball about 2 feet from corner. The 2nd Red Bull player is in touch behind the end line. He comes into play and kicks the ball. There are no Union plyers on the end line. Should that not have been off sides since there were no Union Players between him and the goal? AThe game continue as if he were on sides.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
Law 11 states that it is not possible to be offside from a throw in, goal kick and a corner kick.

As described the ball was played by NY Red Bull player #1 to a team mate NY Red Bull player #2. As offside does not apply to the corner kick by player #1 there is no possible offside even if NY RB#2 was in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi James,
As my colleague ref McHugh so correctly states, it is not possible to be offside from a corner kick. Accordingly, there was no offside offence here.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi James,
the match continued because there is no offside infraction possible on the initial corner kick. The 2nd player upon receiving the ball is essentially starting off in an offside neutral position because he has legal control of the ball on the FOP. The receiving player is free to dribble or kick the ball no matter his position on the FOP or any other player's position. Until that 2nd player passes that ball away or has it taken off of him there is no offside possibility. Cheers